AT&T tests 4G LTE

New wireless icon as tests continue, full rollout TBA

AT&T customers with LTE-enabled smartphones may have noticed a new icon for their 4G service — 4G LTE.

The telecom is switching its Juneau broadband service to Long Term Evolution at some as yet unknown date. However, AT&T spokesperson Andy Colley said tests would continue until rollout.

"AT&T has not officially launched 4G LTE in Juneau," Colley said. "We've been actively testing 4G LTE in Juneau for several days, and customers with 4G LTE-capable devices may have seen areas where 4G LTE was live on their phone."

LTE is considered a step up in speed from its current HSPA+ broadband technology. HSPA+ bridged AT&T's 3G network to long term evolution.

AT&T recently announced it made $650 million in investments across Alaska since 2010. Some of those dollars were spent in Juneau. AT&T's ongoing tests of its new LTE system come courtesy of nearly 25 wireless network upgrades in Juneau in 2012, Colley said.